Updates to the EL Handbook will be noted with a "last updated" date stamp ( ). Please check this webpage frequently to ensure you have the most current and up-to-date information.
Acknowledgement: Thank you to all pharmacy preceptors, community service-learning coordinators, and other external partners. Without your time, effort, expertise, knowledge, and dedication, we would not have a successful program. Thank you for all that you do for PharmD students.
Purpose
This handbook is intended to be used as a guide for both students and preceptors in the EL Program.
It is the student’s responsibility to read, understand, and comply with policies and procedures as outlined and referenced in this handbook.
EL Office Hours
The EL Office Team can be reached by phone or email Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM.
The EL Office is closed when the University of Saskatchewan is closed, including between December 25 and January 1 and all University-observed holidays. See the Academic Calendar for details.
After-hours supports for students in distress or crisis can be found here.
EL Office Role
We care deeply about students’ quality of learning experiences in EL. In addition to scheduling and overseeing placement logistics, the EL Office supports students in many different ways.
Our role is to guide, coach, and advocate as students develop competence and their own professional identity. Our role is not to fix or control every variable in the EL experience. In the unpredictable and dynamic nature of the real world, EL can feel messy, challenging, or uncomfortable. Discomfort does not always mean danger. Often, it brings meaningful learning opportunities and serves to shape students into more reflective, resilient, and adaptable individuals.
At the end of the day, our commitment is to fairness, equity, and program integrity for all students, preceptors, and sites.
What the EL Office can do for students:
- Directing students to appropriate wellness resources and supports available through the university and community services
- Facilitating timely referrals to health and wellness resources, including urgent or higher-level supports
- Clarifying AES procedures, working with the student and AES to develop a reasonable accommodation plan, and referring students to AES as appropriate
- Acting with allyship and solidarity to protect students from unsafe situations, including students experiencing bias, discrimination, and/or harassment
- Coaching students in developing their professional development skills (e.g., writing learning objectives, setting SMART goals, finding credible resources to support their learning)
- Referring and directing students to externally-offered learning resources (e.g,. time management, study skills courses, etc.)
- Offering verbal and written feedback to help improve students’ self-awareness and self-reflection skills (e.g., feedback on self-evaluations, learning plans, critical reflection assignments)
- Guiding students through remediation in EL including clarifying expectations and potential outcomes with the student and preceptor(s), providing learning resources and coaching, and offering feedback
- Offering a listening ear when students need to talk through concerns or challenges, while helping them identify appropriate next steps or resources
- Promoting conflict resolution approaches and coaching students to advocate for themselves in clear and professional ways
- Facilitating complex and/or challenging conversations between students and preceptors, when necessary
- Providing guidance and resources during critical events like needlestick injuries, natural disasters, other site disruptions, etc.
- Helping students to navigate reporting concerns with a site or preceptor including unprofessional, unethical, or illegal behaviour
What the EL Office cannot do for students:
- Overriding established program policies and procedures (e.g., attendance requirements, absence documentation, scheduling procedures, AES approval, etc.)
- Providing scheduling exceptions for individual personal events or preferences that fall outside of established approval processes (e.g., weddings, travel, etc.)
- Resolving conflicts for students, rather than with students
- Moving students from a site due to interpersonal differences that can reasonably be mediated
- Lowering performance expectations for students for any reason, including students who are struggling, students with AES accommodations, etc.
- Writing learning plans or personal objectives for students
Educational Outcomes and Competencies Assessed in EL
Experiential Learning presents students the opportunity to practice and receive feedback on the essential knowledge, skills, and behaviours of a competent pharmacy professional at entry-to-practice. Graduates of the PharmD program are expected to demonstrate the essential competencies in knowledge and skills as laid out in The Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) Educational Outcomes, The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) Professional Competencies, and the USask EL Competencies.
Students and preceptors are expected to be familiar with assessment and evaluation expectations in the EL Program.
Performance Concerns & Remediation
Students and preceptors are required to carefully read the course syllabus prior to starting the placement to ensure comprehension of the course requirements and assessment and evaluation expectations. Criteria required to pass the course are described in the syllabi.
Students at Risk of Not Passing the Placement
Updated February 2026
For Service Learning and Immersions: Students must meet expectations as outlined in the respective rubric(s) and evaluation(s) for each assignment, immersion, or at completion of service learning.
For IPPE and APPE Rotations: Students must achieve the minimum expected achievement level for each required competency in the final evaluation.
For IPPEs and APPEs, students may receive a grade lower than the expected level of achievement for their year in the program at midpoint, with the understanding that with more time, effort, and practice, they will have an opportunity to demonstrate growth and consistent performance at the expected level. If the preceptor awards a grade lower than the minimum expected level of performance for the student’s year in the program at midpoint, the evaluation must include comments as to how the student has demonstrated the awarded level.
If either the student or preceptor is concerned that the student may not be able to demonstrate the expected level of achievement consistently by final, they must contact the EL Office immediately. The EL Office provides support for students who are not meeting expectations.
Remediation Handbook
In EL, remediation is defined as supportive interventions that ensue when a student is identified either by themself or others to be at risk of not meeting course expectations.
As an opportunity to improve students' performance in EL placements, remediation can also help students identify different ways to learn and demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and attitudes in order to meet expectations.
The purpose of the EL Office's Remediation Handbook is to demystify and destigmatize the remediation process, reducing the negative feelings students may feel toward remediation and replacing them with more neutral thoughts.
Policies for Failure in EL Courses
EL placements are academic courses. Failure in a placement is considered failure of an academic course and is subject to the Academic Policies of the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, including all Faculty Actions. Students must successfully complete all courses (including EL courses) before moving on to the next year in the program.
For information regarding failed courses, withdrawal, and removal from rotation, students should review the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition's Academic Policies.
EL Course Registration
Students are required to register in PAWS for all EL courses before starting their placements. Students who are not registered in the appropriate course and section will not be allowed to begin their placement(s). Placements may be cancelled and the student will be rescheduled pending availability.
If you have any questions about registration, please contact Diane Favreau, Administrative Officer, Undergraduate Affairs.
Placement Scheduling Processes
Updated February 2026
All placements are arranged through the EL Office using a SmartMatch program to match students to practice sites. Students are asked to provide information about their region/site preferences*, block conflicts, conflicts of interest, and Access and Equity Service (AES) accommodations to the EL Office for the SmartMatch process.
*Although the EL Office will endeavor to accommodate the student’s preferences, there is absolutely no guarantee that a student will be placed in their region/site of choice.
Site allocation for placements will be influenced primarily by the availability of pharmacies, preceptors, and sites who meet preceptor and site requirements and are willing to participate in the EL program. Availability is subject to change at any time, even after placement matches are confirmed.
Community and hospital pharmacy placements (PHAR 185, 285, 481, 482) will occur within the province of Saskatchewan at sites that meet specified criteria and standards. Elective rotations (PHAR 483, 484) may occur outside of the province if circumstances permit.
Students can reasonably be expected to complete placements anywhere in Saskatchewan, including rural and remote communities. Students are therefore encouraged to explore accommodation and transportation options, including obtaining a driver's license.
If a student requires a placement accommodation (e.g., a certain city, including Saskatoon) for a reason that falls under one of the Human Rights protected categories such as, but not limited to, family status, disability, or religion, the student must first register with Access and Equity (AES) with the appropriate documentation.
Students must not contact any site, organization, or institution to arrange their own placements or recruit preceptors or sites.
If a student has a placement opportunity that they wish to explore, they must contact the EL Office directly so the EL Office can initiate contact with the prospective preceptor and/or site. Where possible and appropriate, these suggestions will be followed up by the EL Office.
Recruitment for IPPE and APPE rotations takes place in the Fall, so students should bring their ideas to the EL Office as early as possible.
Once the placement process is complete and confirmed, no changes to the placement will be permitted unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Placement scheduling is not subject to appeal, and students are not allowed to switch, trade, or exchange placement dates, times, or sites amongst themselves.
If the student feels that they have an extenuating circumstance, any request to change the placement must be made in writing, include the evidence necessitating the change, where applicable, and be submitted to the EL Office.
Deferred or Supplemental Exams
Updated February 2026
Any student who is granted deferred or supplemental exams in any course will be required to write special deferred or supplemental exams as determined by the College. The student will be ineligible to attempt any EL course until such time that they have successfully completed all relevant prerequisite courses. Therefore, if a student's deferred or supplemental exam(s) interfere with the scheduling of their placement, the placement will be cancelled and rescheduled pending availability once the student has received credit for all prerequisite courses.Conflicts of Interest
A student will not be placed in a site where they meet one or more of the following criteria:
| presently employed at the site |
| previously employed at the site* |
| previously employed by the preceptor(s)/staff presently working at the site |
| family member or close, personal relationships with preceptor(s)/staff presently working at the site |
| any other potential and/or perceived conflict of interest |
*At the discretion of the EL Office, students who have been placed for a previous rotation or employed in a hospital facility or organization may be considered for a placement at that facility or organization. This is assessed by the EL Office on a case-by-case basis.
A student may be employed by the same company or chain as the placement site, so long as it is a different site and a different preceptor from the assigned placement site.
A student cannot be a learner and an employee at the same site at the same time. This applies to all placements for all courses.
Students may start employment with their site/preceptor, if offered, only after they have completed all course requirements for their assigned placement.
Out of Province Opportunities
Students may have the opportunity to complete up to two out of province Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) in PHAR 483 and/or PHAR 484.
To help clarify the parameters around these opportunities, as well as the students' responsibilities should they be matched to an out of province rotation, the EL Office has compiled an information page.
All students interested in out of province opportunities for PHAR 483 and/or PHAR 484 must review this information page prior to submitting their preferences to the EL Office.
Expenses Incurred Related to EL
Expenses that may arise from lodging, food, transportation to and from sites, travel, parking, licensure, additional insurance, and other incidental costs, are the student's responsibility.
Students are encouraged to connect with their preceptor, peers, and other connections to explore potential housing options. The EL Office also maintains a crowd-sourced housing document wherein students and preceptors can populate information about available lodging in communities with EL sites. The document can be found in the CORE Document Library.
Remuneration of Students
Updated February 2026
Students cannot receive any financial compensation or reimbursement for their participation in EL placements. Students are expected to perform certain functions normally performed by a pharmacist under the direct supervision of the preceptor, but this is done for a learning experience related to the course rather than to accomplish a work task.
While never expected, preceptors sometimes choose to gift an item or experience to a student to recognize their achievements, contributions, or growth. These preceptors are asked to thoughtfully consider the optics and inherent power imbalance in the preceptor–student relationship, ensuring any gesture is modest and clearly connected to learning or professional recognition. Any gifts connected to recruitment should be kept separate from the EL experience. Students who are unsure how to navigate these situations are encouraged to contact the EL Office for support.
Student Requirements for EL
Before beginning EL placements, students are responsible for making sure all requirements are met and documented in CORE, as instructed. Failure to meet requirements may result in delays in EL placements, removal from practice sites, and/or delayed progression in the program.
Any site/placement-specific requirements that may not be listed here are the student’s responsibility. Students should reach out to the EL Office if they have concerns about additional requirements stiputed by their site/preceptor.
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance and students are required to sign two confidentiality agreements before their placements each year. Information about confidentiality expectations are outlined in the Expectations for Professionalism section of the EL Handbook.
The signed agreements must be uploaded to CORE annually.
Students must obtain a one-time criminal record check (CRC), including a vulnerable sector search (VSS), which is applicable for the duration of the program.
Students are to ensure the following:
- The results of the criminal record check and vulnerable sector search must be dated within 6 months prior to program start date.
- Obtain two copies. Please keep both copies in a safe place as you may be required to submit an original copy to your service-learning site or your EL site at the time of placement.
- The document must clearly indicate that both a criminal record check and a vulnerable sector search were completed. If both terms are not stated on the document, you will be required to provide additional evidence that both were completed and approved.
The CRC with VSS must be uploaded to CORE at the beginning of the PharmD Program prior to the start of placements.
Students are required to report to the Associate Dean, Academic any criminal convictions and/or outstanding charges that occur after the date of the original criminal record check. Failure to report criminal convictions and/or outstanding charges that have occurred will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the program.
The University of Saskatchewan requires that all students attending a Health Sciences College provide documented proof of immunization prior to any contact with patients. Students are to follow the recommendations for immunizations for health care students as laid out in the most current Saskatchewan Immunization Manual.
Completion of this requirement is mandatory and is not subject to accommodations for philosophical reasons.
In Year 1, students are required to have one appointment with a Student Health Nurse at Student Wellness to ensure all requirements have been met. Students must fax (306-966-5786) or e-mail (wellness@usask.ca) their immunization records and consent form to the Student Wellness Centre prior to their first in-person appointment. Immunization records verified by a Student Health Nurse must be uploaded to CORE.
Additional implications include:
- Students may be asked to provide proof of immunization status or tests to placement site, if requested.
- Students must inform their preceptor of immunization status in relevant clinical situations.
- Student must inform their preceptor of onset of symptoms of a vaccine preventable communicable disease or contagious infection and remove themselves from the rotation as appropriate.
- Completion of the immunization requirements, booking appointments for the immunization review, as well as any associated costs, are the responsibility of the student.
During EL placements, students may be in frequent contact with individuals who are at high risk of complications if they contract influenza and/or COVID-19. It is strongly recommended that students are up to date with their COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.
Students may obtain the vaccination(s) at any location that is convenient. The EL Office sends information to students about the public immunization program in the Fall. After immunization, the student must ask for proof of immunization or obtain it from their MySaskHealthRecord record if they are a resident of Saskatchewan.
Students must upload proof (i.e. documentation) of vaccination to CORE by the annual deadline stipulated by the EL Office, ensuring that the documentation includes their name and date.
Information for students who are not vaccinated against influenza and/or COVID-19: Some EL placements may require influenza and/or COVID-19 vaccination, and students who are not vaccinated may not be able to participate at these sites. Therefore, students who are not vaccinated must sign an Immunization Acknowledgement Form and upload it to CORE in place of proof of vaccination by the deadline stipulated by the EL Office. Please email pharmacyel@usask.ca to obtain a copy of this form.
Travel Insurance:
USask Travel Accident coverage is provided for injury sustained in the consequence of, and during the course of any trip while on the business of the University (excludes everyday travel to and from work and accidents while at the destination).
NOTE: This is not medical coverage, only has a maximum payable of $50,000, and is subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.
Liability Insurance:
USask-registered students are covered for general liability, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy, while performing any duty or taking part in any activity which is considered part of regular or extraordinary studies or recreational activities connected with the Named Insured, including College-approved clinical placements anywhere (except the USA – Insurer’s approval required).
Prior to hospital and/or institutional placements, student must complete respirator fit testing. The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition will arrange to have the respirator fit testing completed.
Students are responsible for any costs incurred for the testing.
Students must ensure that their respirator fit test information is uploaded to CORE, is carried on their person each day of their clinical placement, and is readily accessible if needed or requested. Students are encouraged to keep a photo of their fit test card on their phone.
Students must be refitted every two years or earlier if changes to face shape, size or features occur.
Students must be registered as interns with the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP) before beginning any placement. It is the student's responsibility to follow up directly with SCPP about any outstanding requirements, and also to notify the EL Office of any delays in registration.
If a student fails to register with SCPP, the placement will be cancelled and the student will be removed from the site.
After placements are assigned, students must complete and submit a signed Work-Based Learning Consent and Agreement form and upload the signed form to CORE at the beginning of the PharmD Program prior to the start of placements.
This agreement only covers students participating in a placement located in Saskatchewan. For out of province rotations, where possible, the EL Office will arrange Workers Compensation coverage as per USask processes. Please check with the EL Office to see if your rotation is eligible.
In the event the form is not signed and uploaded to CORE prior to beginning the placement, the student will not be allowed to attend the site until they are in compliance and may delay their progression in the program.
Students must report injuries incurred during a placement immediately to their site and to the EL Office.
Students participating in EL placements must successfully complete mandatory online WAVE training. The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition will arrange for student access to training. Once completed, proof of completion (certificate) must be uploaded to CORE.
Students must successfully complete the latest WHMIS training within the year prior to their PHAR 285 IPPE rotation. Students must upload their certificate of completion to CORE prior to starting the rotation.
As per USask Safety Resources, WHMIS training expires after 3 years so students must refresh their training when needed so they maintain valid training for the entire duration of the program.
While on rotation, students are to comply with WHMIS policy as stated in the SAHSN Agreement.
Students participating in placements outside of Saskatchewan are responsible for investigating and complying with all requirements for these placements including:
- registration as a Pharmacist Intern with the appropriate regulatory body
- obtaining additional insurance*
- any additional requirements as stipulated by the site
*For out of province rotations, where possible, the EL Office will arrange Workers Compensation coverage as per USask processes. Please check with the EL Office to see if your rotation is eligible.
Students are responsible for any costs associated with the placement.
Students completing out-of-province placements must complete the Student Acknowledgement of Out of Province Registration Form found in the CORE Document Library once all requirements have been met.
The completed form must be uploaded to CORE and the student must notify the EL Office of requirement completion before beginning the rotation.
Site and Preceptor Requirements for EL
The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition only recruits sites and preceptors that meet established standards and criteria in order to offer diverse, high quality placements. To ensure all students have a positive and enriching learning experience, selection and quality assurance is of the utmost importance in the EL program.
Preceptors must maintain compliance with preceptor requirements and inform the EL Office if and when they no longer meet these standards.
Student Support Services
Students are able to connect with on- and off-campus supports for their health and wellbeing while they are registered in courses as a USask student. Students need not be located in Saskatoon to access many of the supports listed on our Student Support Services webpage. Click below for more information.
Expectations for Professionalism
Updated February 2026
Experiential Learning offers students structured opportunities to navigate professional decision-making, with coaching from the EL Office, preceptors, and others.
Across all placements, students are expected to demonstrate professionalism by actively engaging in their learning, communicating respectfully, and navigating responsibilities and relationships with maturity and accountability.
Core expectations include:
- Proactively identifying, discussing, and initiating learning opportunities, working collaboratively with the preceptor and others to maximize opportunities.
- Showing initiative and working as independently as expected with respect to performance expectations, recognizing that supervision by a licensed pharmacist is always required.
- Demonstrating respectful, courteous behaviour toward all patients, clients, preceptors, other site staff, faculty, peers, and others. Addressing patients, clients, preceptors, faculty, staff, and others by their formal name and title if so desired (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Mx., Dr., etc.), unless instructed otherwise.
- Respecting each practice site and maintaining discretion when reflecting on prior experiences. The sharing of experiences from previous learning environments with others, including preceptors and other students, must respect confidentiality.
- Raising concerns or grievances only with the individual involved, with their preceptor, and/or with the EL Office, but not with any other students, site staff, preceptors and staff at other sites, faculty, or others without a need to know.
- Being fit for duty and free from the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances during placements. Students under the influence will be immediately removed from the placement and procedures for concerns with student professional behaviour (Major Incident) will be followed.
- Recognizing personal and professional limits and seeking support when needed to ensure safe, appropriate practice. This includes recognizing the need to seek help if unable to perform their duties safely for personal (e.g., mental health) or professional (e.g., scope of practice) reasons.
Expectations for professionalism in the PharmD program are outlined in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition's Procedures for Concerns with Pharmacy and Nutrition Student Professional Behaviour document. In instances where a student's decisions or behaviour are perceived as unprofessional, these procedures will be followed.
Updated February 2026
Students must exhibit a professional appearance both in manner and dress and must follow the professional standards of behaviour specified in the pharmacy or site (including service learning) to which they are assigned.
Student in placements at Saskatchewan Health Authority sites must adhere to Schedule L: Dress Code of the SAHSN Agreement.
Expectations for all students in all placements include:
- Name badge must be worn at all times.
- Photo name badges are provided by the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition.
- An identification tag with or without photos may be provided by institutions.
- Unless directed otherwise by the preceptor, the student is expected to dress professionally with a clean and pressed white laboratory/dispensing jacket.
- The student is responsible for complying with the site's unique dress code and should check with the site regarding dress and appearance policies:
- Sites may have specific policies in place about appropriate and expected dress (e.g., lab coat, collared shirt, black pants, length of skirts and dresses, etc.).
- At minimum, dress and personal appearance must always be neat, clean, and professional.
- Appropriate footwear with closed toes must be worn at all times.
- Hair should be tied or pinned back, and facial hair should be clean, trimmed, and well groomed.
- Tattoos should be covered during the placement if deemed inappropriate by the preceptor.
Examples of inappropriate dress include, but are not limited to the following: open-toe, casual, or dirty footwear, blue jeans, sweat pants, athletic gear or tight spandex-style clothing, shorts, miniskirts, graphic T-shirts, clothing that exposes the midriff or undergarments, low necklines, and clothing that is torn, frayed, dirty, or appears in general poor condition.
Furthermore, students must understand and adhere to policies that address patient safety risks and/or compromised sterility of drug preparation areas with respect to grooming and accessorizing (e.g., facial hair, piercings, artificial or gel nails, colored nail polish, sparkles/glitter, etc.).
Most facilities also have a no-scent policy regarding the use of cologne, perfume, and/or scented body products. Students must comply with this policy.
Any expenses incurred to comply with the dress code are the responsibility of the student.Students are expected to be punctual in arriving at the practice site and to adhere to the schedule arranged with the preceptor for each placement. Students should not leave before the agreed-upon time without first requesting permission from the preceptor.
Students are expected to be on time for all meetings, discussion sessions, and appointments. If the student is unavoidably delayed, they must initiate and make contact with the preceptor or most responsible supervisor for the day as soon as it becomes apparent that they will be late (phone preferred). If the student is unable to reach someone at the site, the student should notify the EL Office.
Issues with lateness and/or failure to notify the preceptor of impending lateness can impact the student’s professionalism assessment and may result in unsuccessful completion of the course.
Personal Health Information (PHI) and Personal Information (PI) obtained in the workplace by a student must remain confidential and secure both in and out of the pharmacy or institution. The maintenance of confidentiality extends beyond the period of the placement and confidential information must not be shared with others at any time.
There is zero tolerance of breach of patient confidentiality. Breach of confidentiality can result in immediate dismissal from the practice site, failure of the rotation, and dismissal from the program.
Expectations for all students include:
- Signing confidentiality agreements before their initial EL placement each year. Placement sites may require additional site-specific forms/agreements to be signed by the student during a student placement at the discretion of the site.
- Maintain the security and confidentiality of, and not disclose to any third party, confidential or personal information, including PHI of patients and PI of students, instructors, and site employees. Information that is considered confidential includes but is not limited to:
- PHI or information related to the personal affairs or medical conditions and treatment of patients including social information, Pharmaceutical Information Program (PIP) information, etc.
- PI about other students, preceptors/instructors, and site employees.
- Business and operational information of the site including pharmacy records, fee systems, professional policies, etc.
- Collect, use, and disclose PHI, PI, and information considered confidential by the placement site only on a need-to-know basis for purposes authorized by the Saskatchewan Health Information Protection Act (HIPA) and the Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection Act (LAFOIP).
- Follow the trustee’s protocol for collecting information for research purposes.
- Report suspected or confirmed privacy breaches in a timely manner to the site Privacy Officer in accordance with site policies and procedures.
- Cooperate with any investigation of non-compliance with privacy legislation including an investigation led by the site and/or the Privacy Commissioner.
- Seek clarification as necessary on confidentiality and privacy issues/policies.
- Comply with LAFOIP, HIPA, and relevant Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA)/Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) policies, including the SAHSN Agreement, as well as College of Pharmacy and Nutrition program policies.
Students can expect to use email as a primary communication tool with the EL Office during the PharmD program. Professional communication is a skillset that students are expected to develop over the program, but baseline expectations exist to ensure that efficient and respectful communication is transmitted both ways.
Expectations for all students include:
- Students must use only their USask-issued e-mail address (abc123@usask.ca) to send email communications regarding EL, including to the EL Office and preceptors.
- All email communications should reflect a professional tone and language. Use proper salutations, grammar, and punctuation. Emails should also always contain full sentences. Email is not a text message; rather, it is an electronic letter.
- Specify the purpose in the subject line and early in the message body. Reread before sending to ensure clarity of the purpose of the email.
- In the email signature, the sender should sign off with their first and last legal name as well as preferred name, if applicable.
- Treat all information shared via email with confidentiality. As a reminder, personal health information and personal information related to patients, student records, or any proprietary information should be excluded or de-identified when appropriate.
- Respond to emails within a reasonable time frame, typically within 48 hours.
- Emails sent with high priority or those requesting an urgent response from the sender should be immediately responded to at the recipient's earliest availability.
- If a detailed response is required, students must at least acknowledge the receipt of the email and provide a timeframe for the complete response.
- If the EL Office or a preceptor has responded to a question posed, students are expected to send back a brief email confirming that they received the response.
- It is reasonable for students to send a follow up email within a reasonable time frame if they have not received a response. Be courteous and kind in the email and specify that a timely response is required given the circumstance.
Students can anticipate that the EL Office will aim to respond to emails within two working days. Queries for which the answer is available in the couse syllabus, EL Handbook, orientation presentations, PAWS, CANVAS, and/or CORE will not be urgently responded to.
It is important to note that preceptors may not respond as promptly given that they are often balancing multiple other priorities related to their work. If a student does not hear back from a preceptor by email after multiple attempts, they should attempt to phone the preceptor/site and/or may reach out to the EL Office for support.
Students' use of electronic devices is to be reviewed with the preceptor at each site. If device use is sanctioned at the site, they are to be used with utmost discretion for educational purposes only. If offered by the preceptor, the device may be used to contact the preceptor for EL-related matters only.
Students must refrain from posting any patient, client, coordinator, preceptor, pharmacy practice or business information on the Internet or any form of social media (e.g., Facebook, X, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, etc.).
Students should be mindful of their use of social media on coffee and lunch breaks while on rotation. It could be perceived as unprofessional that a student who is meant to be on rotation is posting on social media during regular working hours.
Student in placements at Saskatchewan Health Authority sites must adhere to Schedule N: Mobile Device Usage of the SAHSN Agreement. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they read, understand, and comply with the policy.
Concurrent employment during rotations is discouraged as the rotation schedule and associated activities shall take precedence.
Employment conflicts will not be considered legitimate reasons for excusing a student from the site or course expectations and, if necessary, work schedules must be adjusted to accommodate the EL course requirements.
If the preceptor or EL Office deems the student’s concurrent employment to adversely affect the student’s participation, performance, ability to meet deadlines, and/or adversely affect patient care, the student will be removed from the practice site and may be unsuccessful in completion of the course, which may result in a delay in progression in the program.
Similarly, this also applies to other courses students may wish to take during the rotation period, including combined MBA/PharmD courses.
Students are responsible to be in compliance with policies and procedures as outlined in the schedules appended to the Saskatchewan Academic Health Sciences Network (SAHSN) Clinical Placement Agreement for all placements completed at Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) sites.
This includes adherence to:
- Obtaining and documenting all EL student requirements as listed in the EL Handbook
- Safe Moving Practice
- Students will comply with safe moving requirements and techniques during all clinical placements. However, pharmacy students are not trained in safe moving practices, so they are not to move patients.
- Hand Hygiene
- Students will consistently perform proper hand washing techniques during clinical placements as defined by the current best standards and practices.
- Dress Code
- Students are expected to dress according to professional and safety expectations or requirements. Certain departments or services may have additional dress code requirements. The policy outlines specific requirements for shoes, clothing, jewelry, photo ID badges, and more.
- Mobile Device Usage
- Students are permitted to use mobile devices during placements but must adhere to the policies outlined in the agreement while in placements within the SHA.
Expectations for Participation and Supervision
Students must be under the supervision of a licensed professional at all times during EL placements. However, students must not expect the preceptor or others to teach all of the time. The student is responsible for their own learning and success so should be demonstrating the required performance expectations rather than passively observing or shadowing.
The benefit gained by the student in EL will depend to a great extent upon the attitude expressed towards the experience by each individual student. Each student should utilize individual initiative to become involved in learning opportunities.
Preceptors are prepared to provide guidance, assessment, assistance, and to supervise students, but they also have other responsibilities (to patients, colleagues, hospital/institution, organization, or business) which take priority. Students should respect these situations and should either wait until a more appropriate time to approach the preceptor, consult another supervising professional, or act independently (where appropriate) to start solving the problem. Students are also expected to be prepared for all scheduled activities (e.g., meetings, patient review sessions, patient counseling, etc.) and to participate to the fullest extent possible.
Preceptors are required to review the SCPP Supervision of Pharmacy Interns Policy on an annual basis. Students are also encouraged to review the document to understand the responsibilities of the supervising professional.
The link below is the SCPP Reference Manual. Search "supervision" to download the most current version of the document.
After a site orientation, the student will seek opportunities to actively participate in authentic activities at the practice site to demonstrate the required expectations and competencies.
All assignments, assessments, and deliverables are to be completed according to site standards or as directed by the preceptor or other supervising professional.
Students should be prepared to work as independently as appropriate based on the placement's performance expectations and seek the support, guidance, and approval (i.e. sign off) of their preceptor instead of waiting for the preceptor to follow up with them.
Students should take the initiative in communicating with physicians, patients, and other health professionals, but should not step beyond the realm of professional courtesy, scope of practice, and common sense, and should only do so under direct supervision of their preceptor.
Students must recognize and respect that preceptors need time and exposure to the student before enough trust can be built to allow the student to practice with reactive supervision (e.g. ability to talk to patients alone with preceptor close by for support), and that trust will need to be re-established in each new learning environment.
Expectations for Attendance
Assigned Schedules
Placements are expected to take place during the assigned dates and times specified in the student's schedule in CORE.
Students must request permission from the EL Office for any changes to their IPPE and APPE rotation start and/or end dates.
Time on Site
| PHAR 188, 288, 388 Immersions |
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| PHAR 189 Service Learning |
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| IPPE and APPE Rotations |
*Although the student may be expecting usual daytime hours for the rotation, they may be required to be on site earlier than 8:00AM or later than 6:00PM or weekends to obtain key practice experiences. Students should be flexible and willing to incorporate programming that requires them to be present at the site during an evening, night, or weekend (e.g., a weekend patient education program or to experience the difference in workload and pace in the evening).
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Statutory Holidays
Students are not required to work on a USask observed holiday or statutory holiday if it falls during the rotation period, nor are they required to make up the hours. If the student is scheduled to work on a USask observed holiday or statutory holiday, they are entitled to take another day off in lieu.
However, if a statutory holiday occurs during the rotation, the student may also consider the day as part of their rotation. They may work the day and continue to take advantage of their learning experience, provided that the preceptor is agreeable.
EL Absence Procedures
Students are expected to follow the EL Absence Procedures for all absences from placements and other EL-related activities.
All students and preceptors should be familiar with the absence procedures and reach out to the EL Office to clarify as needed.
Click the link below to review the detailed Absence Procedures.
APPE Reflective Days Procedures
Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations (i.e. PHAR 481, 482, 483, 484) have an embedded day of off-site reflection on the fourth (4th) Friday of each APPE rotation. Students are not to attend their rotation on site on scheduled Reflective Days.
All APPE students and preceptors should be familiar with the APPE Reflective Days procedures.
Click the link below to review the detailed APPE Reflective Days Procedures.